ADHD & Gaming - A Gift and a Curse?

August 20th, 2018, 06:00

I was just diagnosed with ADHD last week. I've gone 40 years thinking how I functioned was normal. Turns out i've been overcoming everything through sheer willpower. Right now i'm taking Vyvanse, and I almost cried, because the feeling was "wow, so this is what it's like to feel normal". However, I don't want to be on medication forever, so i've been looking into natural alternatives that have scientific backing, for when my tolerance becomes to high.

Originally Posted by Caddy
I was just diagnosed with ADHD last week. I've gone 40 years thinking how I functioned was normal. Turns out i've been overcoming everything through sheer willpower. Right now i'm taking Vyvanse, and I almost cried, because the feeling was "wow, so this is what it's like to feel normal". However, I don't want to be on medication forever, so i've been looking into natural alternatives that have scientific backing, for when my tolerance becomes to high.

Must be quite the relief after all this time. Glad to hear you've discovered this about yourself

Originally Posted by Caddy
I almost cried, because the feeling was "wow, so this is what it's like to feel normal".

You should only cry for all other people who do not have ADHD as they'll continue to lose time on mundane idiocies over and over not realizing those bore to death anyone with ADHD. Not only that, after puberty for let's say "normal people", it's rarely possible to get into hyperfocus state that produces ingeniuos solutions while feeling similar as if one was on heavy drugs - a sort of win-win.

In other words, if you're not endangering your life or anyone else's, my opinion is that ADHD shouldn't be treated at all. Assuming it's correctly diagnosed.

Personally, I've met only one person so far of which I'd really say "he's got ADHD", and that was a bit … difficult work with him.
He kind of suffered from that, though. I hope he has found a better way to work for him.

-- "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." (E.F.Schumacher, Economist, Source)

Originally Posted by joxer
You should only cry for all other people who do not have ADHD as they'll continue to lose time on mundane idiocies over and over not realizing those bore to death anyone with ADHD. Not only that, after puberty for let's say "normal people", it's rarely possible to get into hyperfocus state that produces ingeniuos solutions while feeling similar as if one was on heavy drugs - a sort of win-win.

In other words, if you're not endangering your life or anyone else's, my opinion is that ADHD shouldn't be treated at all. Assuming it's correctly diagnosed.

I don't thik so. For all I know about it, ADHD person if interested in something gains hyperfocus that lasts for a long time, hours after everyone already let go. Note that such mindwork can produce more efficient results or better optimization than what ordinary people already came by and accepted the false idea it cannot be improved more.
On the other hand, that same ADHD person if finds something boring, my bet is on grinding that's one of reasons why I don't think it needs to be treated, cannot bare a single thought about it nor discuss it with anyone seriously even if it's life depending.

A constant need to move is a part of ADHD, but is not related to hyperfocus. When you were younger, did you ever went into a sort of brainstorm where you were obsessed with a (not emotional) problem and your thoughts felt like an invisible cap on your head. For example thinking about a chess match you've just lost yet feel with one different move could have turned the game in your favor. While you could still communicate with everyone about everything, your mind was actually chewing that certain problem like crazy for hours? That's hyperfocus. Most of us experience it during puberty but lose the ability later.

General autism works differently than what I've just described. Not sure what BBC wrote there, but Einstein, if I'm right what ADHD is, probably had ADHD.

ADHD is more debilitating, you CANT focus, your thoughts are going a hundred miles an hour and you have a constant need to move.

Actually you and Joxer are both right.

There's 3 different classifications of ADHD.

1) inattentive type
2) hyperactive-impulsive type
3) combination type

The latter 2 is what most people think of when they think ADHD, and @joxer is referencing the 1st type (which is what I have). This is also why I went un-diagnosed for such a long time, since it's not your typical "template" ADHD situation.

ADHD is mainly a problem in the brain to create sufficient levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, present in most "normal" brains. It's a required system in the brain, since it creates a "reward" to perform regular functions. Without it we would just sit around like zombies. For people with ADHD, they don't get sufficient levels of dopamine/epi to perform normal tasks. In order to feel fulfilled, they need to find tasks that excite the brain enough to create those chemicals. It's why they can hyper-concentrate on something that's enthralling, because only then are they pushing those motivation chemicals in their brain they're normally being deprived of. It's also why they leave things until the last minute to complete (a long time to finish something doesn't create enough dopamine, but a panic induced rush to finish something will push enough epinephrine and dopamine to stimulate the brain). This area of the brain is also responsible for other executive functions such as inhibitory control, and and working memory. In other words, short term memory, self-control and concentration is "damaged", although that's still a controversial word. This is why those with ADHD get highly addictive to things easily. Food, porn, drugs, alcohol, risky behaviour, etc that can create more pleasure/reward chemicals past the norm. It's also why many people with Binge Eating Disorder make up a large portion of those with ADHD.

For myself, i've always been weary of using medication for treating symptoms, rather than healing the cause, but in this case I see it as brain damage. Again that's not a good word, because i've functioned, got through school (barely, which also now explains why school was hard but college was easy), and kept all my jobs. My relationships are another story. Using a sudo-amphetamine in small therapeutic doses like i'm doing now is not my long term plan, but it's giving me the tools to prepare myself through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, natural supplements, diet change, and organization.